Tory defectors having second thoughts about jumping ship to Reform have been told by Kemi Badenoch: there's no way back.

Branding them 'drama queens' and troublemakers, the Tory leader made clear MPs and activists who had deserted to Nigel Farage's party could not return.

The declaration came after some defectors privately approached the Tories about reversing their move. Mrs Badenoch told the Mail on Sunday: 'Many of those who defected to Reform were the very people causing problems inside the Conservative Party.

'These types of people are in every business and organisation in the country – drama queens, always moaning and causing headaches for others.

'They have taken those problems with them to Reform.'

In the past year, the Tories have been rocked by a succession of high–profile defections to Reform – including former Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and Danny Kruger, the party's work and pensions spokesman.

But there have been suggestions that Mrs Badenoch's apparent success in restoring the morale of the Conservatives and Reform no longer surging ahead in some polls is causing some of the deserters to think again.

Mr Farage is currently awaiting the verdict of a Commons standards inquiry into a £5million undeclared donation while his party is still reeling from Andy Burnham's by–election victory for Labour in Makerfield last month.

However, in a message to any former Tories now regretting their switch, Mrs Badenoch made clear that she would not welcome back politicians who desert 'when the going gets tough'.

She said: 'The Conservatives are now more united than we have been in decades. We are showing again that we are the party of common sense ready to take the tough decisions that will fix the country.'

The Tory leader added: 'The country does not need weak politicians who drift wherever the wind blows.'

However, Reform sources dismissed the Tory leader's warning last night, mocking her as the 'Captain of the Titanic'.

One said: 'To those remaining on it: too late, you've missed the deadline for a lifeboat.

'The only thing colder than the North Atlantic will be the jobs market for ex–Tory MPs after the general election.'